COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday that UN chief Ban Ki-moon had “acted in haste” by recalling his top envoy on the island in response to angry protests over a UN war crimes panel. Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said the government had told Ban’s chief representative Neil Buhne that the days of protests […]
In a letter to the President, Minister Wimal Weerawansa has informed of his wish to resign from his Housing and Construction ministerial portfolio. In his letter he has claimed that it is difficult to carryout the struggle against the enemies of the country while holding the Ministerial post. Wimal in his letter adds that if […]
“Now jokers are talking as if they are engaged in the war. I will take the full responsibility for the manner in which the war was conducted and its result,” said parliamentarian General Sarath Fonseka at a media briefing held today. “As the former Army commander, I have always stated that I will take full […]
NEW YORK, July 8 (AP) – (Kyodo)—U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Thursday that he is closing the U.N. Development Program Regional Center in Colombo in light of ongoing protests there against the world body. In a statement, Ban strongly criticized the Sri Lankan government, saying he “finds it unacceptable that the Sri Lankan […]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was on a goodwill visit to the Maldives met with Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldivian Opposition Leader Ahamed Thasmeen Ali, the Chief Justice, Speaker of the Majlis and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, states an External Affairs Ministry release. President Rajapaksa also met a delegation of the MDP and an Opposition […]
AP – By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Sri Lankan cabinet minister started a hunger strike Thursday in front of the U.N. office after the world body refused to halt its investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the country’s civil war. Buddhist monks chanted blessings and some 100 national flag-waving supporters cheered […]
The Hindu – B. Muralidhar Reddy – (Pic by AP) COLOMBO: The United Nations on Wednesday strongly objected to Tuesday’s protests outside its offices in Colombo by a Cabinet Minister that prevented its staff and visitors from entering or leaving the premises, even as supporters of a coalition partner of the government continued their sit-in […]
Sri Lanka is to set up a special council with powers to regulate foreign universities. The government for the fist time in the recent budget announced its readiness to allow foreign universities to set up their branches in Sri Lanka. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayka speaking in parliament said that legal drafts and standards will […]
CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Tuesday clarified her stand on the LTTE, saying that she did not condemn the annihilation of the LTTE in war. “What I condemn is the wanton killing of LTTE activists surrendering, waving white flags before the Sri Lankan Armed forces. What I condemn is the killing of 50,000 unarmed […]
COLOMBO (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund will pay out the delayed third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan to Sri Lanka, saying the government was planning to tackle its weak finances in the 2010 budget to be announced on Tuesday. The IMF in February had delayed the payment after the government missed its 2009 […]
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Police on Tuesday clashed with protesters led by a Sri Lanka cabinet minister who vowed to besiege the U.N. office until Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dissolves a panel advising him on possible war crimes. Sri Lanka’s government is furious at Ban’s appointment of the three-member panel on June 22, saying it is a […]
Mumbai, July 06: Actress Asin, who was in Colombo for the shooting of the Bollywood film Ready, has irked the bosses of South Indian Film Artistes Association (SIFAA). Now, several Tamil associations are gunning for the actress for travelling to Sri Lanka by bypassing the Tamil sentiments. […]
July 05, 2010: A tense situation arose opposite the Kiribathgoda police station last night, after the death of an individual who had arrived to see a suspect who had been arrested by the police. Newsfirst correspondent said that the relatives of the deceased had thus acted in an unruly manner. […]
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) investigating into Saturday’s attack on the Mattakkuliya Police station yesterday produced 176 suspects including several women before Colombo Additional Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara. After lengthy submissions by CCD officials and the Counsel for the suspects the Magistrate granted Rs 50,000 each personal bail for the suspects. Granting bail for the […]
The European Union said Monday it will curb Sri Lanka’s trade benefits because the country has refused to improve human rights. The EU had given Sri Lanka six months from February to enact three U.N. accords on issues such as torture, children’s rights and civil and political rights, but the South Asian country did not. […]
July 05, 2010: The government has increased the prices of almost everything, but it has not increased the salaries. This is only the beginning as the government has to dance to the tune of the IMF, says parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake. He was expressing these views addressing a public meeting yesterday to establish Janabala Mandala in […]